On August 4, 2013, Ferguson-Brenno struck and killed Benjamin Schick, a 19 year old man from the Buffalo suburbs, as Schick walked along Black Lake Road, in the Town of Morristown.

Ferguson-Brenno then drove off. He initially reported to police that his vehicle had been stolen.

In court Wednesday, Ferguson-Brenno told St. Lawrence County Court Judge Jerome J. Richards that before getting into his car to drive, he drank six to eight beers, smoked marijuana, and did cocaine and other drugs.

He then told the judge he hit something and just kept going.

In a statement Wednesday night, St. Lawrence County District Atttorney Mary Rain said assistant District Attorney Joshua Haberkornhalm asked for - and the judge agreed - to sentence Ferguson-Brenno to the maximum allowable sentence under New York law, which is two and one third to seven years in state prison.

"This has been a long and painful ordeal for the family of Mr. Schick and it is my sincerest hope that today’s plea to the top count will provide some solace and emotional relief to his family,” Rain said.

“This outcome should be a message, if you are high and behind the wheel, we will seek justice and where appropriate the maximum sentence that the law provides.”